The members of our Defence Anglican Leadership team are Bishop Len Eacott, Archdeacons Eric Burton, Geoff Webb and Kevin Russell. We are ably assisted by CAPT Cat Crane as Staff Officer and Rev’d Colin Aiken as Registrar, Director of Ordinands and Professional Standards Officer. We seek to lead the gifted team of Anglican Chaplains in Navy, Army and Air Force in mission, by providing vision, pastoral oversight and care.

Bishop Len Eacott	Eric Burton Archdeacon – Navy	Geoff Webb Archdeacon – Army	Kevin Russell Archdeacon – Air Force	Colin Aiken Registrar
		Cat Crane Bishop’s Staff Officer

The Right Reverend Len Eacott, AM

Bishop Len Eacott was consecrated as a Bishop in the Church of God and Installed as the Anglican Bishop to the Australian Defence Force on 29th June 2007. A graduate of St Francis’ Theological College, Brisbane and the University of Queensland. Bishop Len was ordained adeacon and then priest in the Anglican Church of Australia in 1983. Previously he had worked as a soil conservation field officer and as an Infantry officer in the Army Reserve.

With the Regular Army, he served in Townsville, with the United Nations in Cambodia, the Land Warfare Centre, Canungra, as the senior chaplain Headquarters 1st Division. In 1999-2000 he was Senior Chaplain to the International Force in East Timor, Senior Chaplain to the Logistic Support Force, and Command Chaplain to Land Headquarters in Sydney.

In March 2002 he was collated Archdeacon to the Australian Army, assuming the appointment of Principal Chaplain – Army in Canberra in November that year. He retired from that position on 21 st January 2007. He was admitted as a Member of the Military Division of the Order of Australia on 26th January 2007.

He is blissfully married to Sandy. They have a married daughter and two grand-children in Queensland. Their younger son works in the IT industry in Canberra. Their elder son died of cancer in 1995. Bishop Len’s interests include bushwalking, off-road cycling, genealogical research, and reading.

Bishop’s Staff Officer:  Captain Cat Crane

Captain Catherine (Cat) Crane served in the Regular Army, as an Ordnance Corps Officer, for 13 years posted to a number of positions including Operations Officer, Resource manager, Supply Officer and Instructor at the Royal Military College – Duntroon.  In 2009 Cat completed an internship with The Australian Navigators.   Cat’s ministry focus has been evangelical and discipleship bible studies at the Australian Defence Force Academy and the Australian University with young women.  In 2010 Cat transferred to the Army Reserves and commenced as Staff Officer to the Bishop in March.

Contact the Staff Officer

ADF Chaplaincy Administrator
In the event of the Bishop’s absence on duty overseas or on leave for a period exceeding fourteen days, the senior archdeacon according to date of collation will act as Administrator in his stead. Other than episcopal functions, the Administrator will have complete authority and all matters should be referred to him in the Bishop’s absence.

The Archdeacons

Archdeacon to the Navy
Principal Chaplain Eric Burton CSC RANR

Eric was born in Malta to English parents and immigrated to Australia in 1967. He joined the Royal Australian Navy the following year and served six years as a Radio Technician. A career highlight of that time was serving on the Aircraft Carrier HMAS MELBOURNE for two years. However an even bigger highlight was discovering Jesus as an Able Seaman and experiencing the joy of sins forgiven and the promise of eternal life with God.

Eric trained for the ordained ministry at St Mark’s theological college in Canberra ACT from 1974 – 76, spent a further 12 years in parish ministry, and then rejoined the Navy as a Chaplain in 1988.

Serving in a variety of postings including the training establishment HMAS CERBERUS, the tanker HMAS WESTRALIA and Darwin base HMAS Coonawarra, Eric served in Sydney in Senior Chaplain roles before selection as Principal Chaplain and Director General Chaplain – Navy in 2003. Eric moved from fulltime to part time chaplaincy in 2008.

Eric’s wife is Lynda and they have four adult children and four grandchildren.

Eric is the coordinator for Alpha for the Forces in Australia and has also accepted the role of Vice – President of Asia Pacific region of Associated Military Christian Fellowships with the aim of encouraging Military Christian Fellowships around the region.

He resides in Canberra.

Contact Archdeacon Eric Burton

Archdeacon to the Army
Chaplain Geoff Webb

Chaplain Geoffrey Claude Webb was born in Bowral NSW and grew up and was educated in the neighbouring Southern Highlands town of Moss Vale. After completing school he worked on the family dairy farm. Interspersed with that he served as a National Serviceman in 1969 and during 1981-82 was a member of 4 Bn RNSWR.

In 1985 he entered Moore Theological College as a candidate for ordination in the Anglican Diocese of Sydney. He was ordained in February 1988 and was posted as the curate to his home town of Moss Vale where he served until 21 January 1991 when he enlisted in the ARA as a Chaplain. His first posting was to DSU Liverpool for service at SME and then Moorebank Logistic Group (now DNSDC). In 1995 he was posted to 5/7 RAR and in that year visited Rifle Company Butterworth. In July he went to the UK on Exercise Long Look to serve with 3 UK Div at Bulford and then 1 Royal Tank Regiment at Tidworth.At the end of 1995 Chaplain Webb transferred to the Army Reserve and was posted as the Reserve Chaplain to the newly formed 4 RAR which, in 1997, became 4 RAR Commando. During this time he was the Associate Minister in the Parish of Denistone East/Marsfield with responsibility for St George’s Church Marsfield. In February 1999 he reenlisted in the ARA and was posted to 1 Field Hospital at Holsworthy on promotion to Chaplain 2 (Major). On 20 September 1999 Chaplain Webb deployed to East Timor as part of Interfet with the Forward Surgical Team (Light) which became in October FST (Heavy) with the arrival of the remainder of the Hospital. In 2001 Chaplain Webb was posted to RMC. In 2004 he was promoted to Chaplain 3 (Lieutenant Colonel) and posted as the Senior Chaplain HQLSF (now 17 CSS BDE). At the beginning of 2007 he was posted as the Senior Chaplain HQ Land Warfare Development Centre. Chaplain Webb was collated Archdeacon to the Australian Army on 18 November 2007, and assumed the appointment as Head of Denomination – Anglican from 1 January 2008. Chaplain Webb holds the degrees of Bachelor of Theology 2nd Class Honours and a Master of Arts (Theology.). His interests include history (particularly military history), science fiction and fantasy, and movies (especially old war movies, although his all time favourite movie is Ben Hur). His theological interests are in the area of Biblical Studies and Ancient Greek.Chaplain Webb is married to Ann. They have four adult children; David, Melissa, Amy and Katherine and one granddaughter Emily.

Contact Archdeacon Geoff Webb

Archdeacon to the Air Force
Chaplain Kevin Russell

Kevin Russell was born in Nottingham, England in 1957 and migrated with his parents to Sydney in 1964. He was educated in French’s Forest, Sydney. During his High School years, Kevin was introduced to Jesus Christ and the Christian faith.

In 1982 he commenced studies towards becoming a minister in the Anglican Church. His first Church appointment was as assistant minister at Richmond, NSW, in 1986. During this time Kevin both met his wife, Debra and became interested in ministry within the military context.

Kevin joined the RAAF towards the end of 1987 and has served as Anglican Chaplain at RAAF Edinburgh, Pearce, Richmond, East Sale and Williamtown. While at Williamtown, he spent some time in East Timor. While he was at RAAF Pearce, Hannah and Daniel were born.

Between 2003 and 2007, Kevin served as Director Chaplaincy-Training Command and later Air Force Training Group. During this time, Kevin completed his Master of Ministry and published a book entitledPastoral Support for Military Chaplains. While he was in this position, considerable change occurred within the career structure of military chaplains, and for the first time, specific ministry training was introduce on an ADF basis for military chaplains. Kevin was in the position to influence the development of this training from an Air Force perspective.

Throughout their many postings, Kevin and Debra have maintained close ties with the life of the local church.

Kevin moved from Air Force Training Group to Air Command in 2008 and has taken on the additional role of Anglican Head of Denomination. He was collated Archdeacon on 6 April 2008. As Archdeacon, Kevin leads and represents the Anglican component of Air Force Chaplaincy. His vision is that Anglican RAAF chaplaincy be known for its close working ties with other denominations, its professionalism, particularly in service to RAAF members and their dependants, and its strong Christian identity.

Contact Archdeacon Kevin Russell

Registrar, Director of Ordinands and Professional Standards Director
Chaplain Colin Aiken, OAM, RFD